Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide assistance, advice, planning support and analytical support to OPP bureaus and regions, Senior Command, Section Manager , and the Bureau Commander through all phases of strategic financial and business planning by researching, preparing, co-ordinating and providing leadership in the provision of financial analysis, business case development, support and advice to OPP program areas as related to in-year funding submissions (TB20s), report backs, and Result-based Planning submissions. To lead/participate on multi-disciplinary teams in order to co-ordinate a variety of financial processes and business initiatives to ensure optimal utilization of fiscal resources.

Duties / Responsibilities :

In the Business and Financial Services Bureau of a highly decentralized organization, with operating expenditures in excess of $1 billion, reporting to the Manager, Strategic Financial Planning, the position:

1. Provides a range of planning, consulting, analytical and financial services to OPP executives and staff at all levels on funding strategies for the budget.

2. Co-ordinates preparation of reports and submissions to central agencies such as Treasury Board/Management Board of Cabinet and Ministry of Finance, analyzing content to ensure compliance with central agency and ministry requirements. Evaluates OPP resource requirements, prepares costing options, and monitors compliance with OPP senior management financial decisions and developing in-year and multi-year fiscal strategies to achieve corporate priorities.

3. Develops, reviews and analyzes business cases such as TB-20s, Report Backs and Results Based Plans, ensuring they are consistent with other OPP, ministry and justice sector initiatives and priorities, and that all central agency requirements are met. Ensures funding levels as requested by program areas are rationalized, and supports these requests within the OPP, Ministry and Treasury Board/Management Board of Cabinet.

4. Develops viable fiscal management strategies to address operating issues by identifying, developing and recommending options and strategies for addressing funding pressures and for dealing with other in-year pressures and priorities.

5. Performs complex and comprehensive analysis to assess the business and financial implications of legislative and policy changes. Uses appropriate software applications to collect and compile financial data for analysis, and prepares communication materials and report-back information (e.g., Briefing Notes, Issue Notes, Executive Council submissions, correspondence) for OPP and ministry senior management. Reports to the bureau and executive management team, orally and in writing, on business planning issues, strategies and initiatives.

6. Analyzes and develops recommendations and options in support of labour negotiations with the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA).

7. Facilitates the development of initiatives, studies and proposals to support OPP or government initiatives (e.g. adequacy standards) to ensure they reflect OPP, ministry and government key business directions. Assists in tracking business plan initiatives in support of an integrated, organization-wide accountability framework by gathering relevant data and identifying critical path milestones, identifying whether locations are achieving goals or are at risk of missing them.

8. Provides technical advice and guidance to Strategic Planners. Provides consultation and expertise in the development and implementation of effective performance measures, linking corporate strategies with performance and program measures, leading and conducting program evaluation cost benefit and value for money, etc and promoting and understanding of the ministry and OPP vision and business plan to all levels of the organization;

9. Supports ongoing environmental scanning, identifies and develops benchmarks and good practices, recommends improvements opportunities and process changes, and keeps apprised of current and emerging business planning practices. Supports corporate business planning initiatives by facilitating planning sessions, conducting training and participating in projects to implement initiatives.

10. Participates on and leads OPP, ministry and inter-ministry project teams and committees. Facilitates management retreats, training sessions, and other business planning meetings. Prepares communication documents, including speeches for delivery by senior management and training materials on business planning processes. Troubleshoots sensitive issues and works with detachments, regional units, bureaux and external partners to achieve common goals and effect OPP planning goals, objectives and initiatives.

Knowledge :

Knowledge of related legislation and government policy, including Management Board Guidelines and Directives and OPP and ministry financial policies and procedures. Understanding of ministry, government and OPP vision, directions and priorities. Knowledge of OPP operations and thorough knowledge of and skill in the application of strategic financial processes. Comprehensive knowledge of financial and management accounting principles as defined by Generally Accepted Accounting Practices. Knowledge of the Ontario Government's resource allocation process. Thorough knowledge of OPP and ministry operations and related financial and administrative practices and processes, as well as management, business, and administrative best practices to provide analysis and advice. Analytical, conceptual and problem-solving skills to adapt and apply current theories to practical situations and to identify issues for the bureau, OPP and Ministry and to analyze and recommend solutions.

Organizational, analytical and project management skills to support bureau managers, regional, bureau and detachment locations and OPP executive to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of business planning.

Interpersonal and communications skills to provide coaching and consultative advice and to manage and coordinate a wide range of varied responsibilities, including preparing and presenting concepts and recommendations to OPP and ministry senior management. Knowledge of computer applications to plan, manage, and improve financial processes and accountability. Organizational and administrative skills to determine objectives and priorities, plan, direct, organize and coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously, produce high quality products within identified timelines, under stressful conditions. Discretion, diplomacy and tact in dealing with various confidential, contentious and sensitive issues.

Leadership and teamwork skills to effectively oversee and manage project groups. Written and oral communication skills to review, write and edit OPP, Treasury Board/Management Board of Cabinet and other central agency submissions.

Judgement :

Work is performed under the direction of the Manager, Strategic Financial Planning. Judgement is required in consulting with, advising and co-ordinating input from region and bureau locations, providing relevant advice to executive and senior management on all financial, business policies, process matters and all aspects of business planning. Judgment is required to interpret financial policies and central agency guidelines and respond to requests for information from the ministry, the Minister's Office and central agencies. Judgement is required analyzing and evaluating program performance and results to identify business needs and improvement opportunities and in resolving complex issues that arise in interpreting government financial policies and recommending allocation of scarce financial resources among competing priorities. Judgement is exercised when negotiating funding levels requested by program areas. Judgement is required to interpret direction from central agencies, and to identify and research, analyze and recommend best strategies to meet priorities and goals. Judgement is required when participating in negotiations and when monitoring provisions of the OPPA Memorandum of Understanding. Judgment is exercised in: determining the scope of research, analysis and consultation required to conduct projects; ;. Judgment is required when representing the OPP's position to government and policing partners and in coaching and facilitating planning sessions. Judgment is required for resolving issues of a frequently controversial and sensitive nature with stakeholders, partners and local interest groups.

Accountability – Personnel :

The quality, accuracy and completeness of analyses of outputs from the section; the soundness of recommendations; the timely management and effective presentation of assigned issues, projects and assignments to assist with decision making in a large, complex organization. Ensuring the completeness and appropriateness of information, analysis and recommendations provided in funding submissions and making recommendations to unit manager, Bureau Commander and senior management to contribute to effective decision-making. Appropriate, timely and complete consultation and advice to affected stakeholders. Ensuring the completeness and appropriateness of bureau and region business plans and related performance measures, program evaluation and making recommendations to bureau and region commanders and provincial commanders to contribute to effective senior management decision-making.

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

Position is to ensure the maintenance of relevant databases, tools and resources, statistical information and reports.

HUMAN RESOURCES: Provides technical advice and guidance to Section Staff.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Inaccurate information, improper advice and poorly conceived recommendations could cause OPP senior management to make ill-informed decisions and could result in significant financial loss to the OPP, inaccurate reporting to stakeholders and embarrassment to the OPP along with contributing to the implementation of inefficient business initiatives and poorly conceived bureau and regional plans with potential adverse impacts on the cost effectiveness of service delivery and business operations. Substantial risk exists, as the position is responsible for representing business cases to OPP management, ministry management and central agencies. If business cases are not sound, the ministry may experience loss of integrity. Failure to monitor operational needs could seriously impair the section causing ineffective use of resources and time. Errors in judgment could have long-term resource, strategic and performance implications. Inaccurate information, improper advice and poorly conceived planning activities, including performance measures, could result in the identification of unachievable performance targets or targets that are at variance with OPP, ministry and overall government directions. Errors in judgment could negatively impact credibility with central agencies.

Contact - Internal :

Regular, frequent contact with OPP personnel, including senior management, to obtain information and advise on the Results-Based Planning process and business planning and evaluation measures. Regular contact with staff of other ministry branches to obtain/share information. Participation in high-level ministry and inter-governmental committees and workgroups is required.

Contact - External :

Regular contact with Ministry staff to provide information on submissions and to discuss the OPP's fiscal status and discuss public performance measures. Regular contact with professional organizations and other financial industry leaders to maintain expertise, exchange information, and identify financial best practices. Occasional contact with counterparts in other provincial ministries and federal government departments, members of other police services, other business planning groups such as inter-ministerial/inter-governmental working groups to share information and conduct research.